EU Team Rebukes Albania Over Police Officers

A European Commission team criticised Albania's centre-right government on Wednesday for firing many of the police officers it spent months training.

Members of the Police Assistance Mission of the European Commission to Albania trained hundreds of officers only to see them dismissed after their courses finished.

"These sackings have prevented the high-cost training from yielding its intended economic gains," the mission said in a statement.

"They have weakened some departments and sectors vital for continuing ongoing projects and meeting the entry targets for the European Union and NATO," it said.

Albania's EU hopes hinge on broad reforms, especially in the state administration, police and the judiciary.

Both main parties, the ruling Democratics and the opposition Socialists, have drawn criticism for allocating top administration jobs on the basis of party loyalty.

The Interior Ministry has not responded publicly to the criticism but an official called the mission's comments "undiplomatic" and said some of the 800 sacked officers could be re-hired in new jobs.

The official said the force now contained some 9,800 officers.
(Javno)